A decade after his passing, David Bowie's devoted fanbase has gathered at the Starman memorial in Brixton, south London, to pay their respects. For Debbie Hilton, 64, the loss of the legendary musician still feels immense, with her home "a shrine" dedicated to his memory.
Hilton recalls first experiencing Bowie's artistry as an 11-year-old girl at a Free Trade Hall concert in 1972, before he achieved widespread fame with his iconic Ziggy Stardust persona. Her connection to him has endured for decades, with Hilton describing herself as "hooked ever since."
When news of Bowie's passing in 2016 shocked the world, Hilton was left reeling, and her reaction mirrored that of many fans worldwide. The musician's death, which followed a liver cancer diagnosis 18 months prior, served as a poignant reminder of his impending mortality – an idea explored through his final album, Blackstar.
The impact of Bowie's passing cannot be overstated for those who have been touched by his music over the years. For Julian Furnival, 68, who has been a die-hard fan since receiving Aladdin Sane on Christmas at age 13, the news came as a devastating blow. Furnival still finds it difficult to accept, with his niece phoning him just hours before the announcement.
Furnival's partner, Laura Hough, 69, has continued to honor Bowie by adding fans' names from around the world to the memorial on their behalf. Despite initial reservations about listening to Blackstar, they have come to appreciate its emotional depth and poignant message.
In addition to Furnival and Hilton, sisters Jenny Wasiak, 65, and Astrid Ballhorn, 74, made a pilgrimage to Brixton from Norwich and retirement respectively to pay tribute to Bowie. For both women, he remains an iconic figure whose influence extends far beyond his own music.
"He's the Beethoven of our day," said Wasiak, who believes that Bowie's innovative style will endure for centuries to come. Ballhorn adds: "He was a genius – there'll never be anyone like him."
The annual gathering at the Starman memorial has become an essential part of the fan community, providing a space for those affected by Bowie's passing to come together and reflect on his enduring legacy.
Hilton recalls first experiencing Bowie's artistry as an 11-year-old girl at a Free Trade Hall concert in 1972, before he achieved widespread fame with his iconic Ziggy Stardust persona. Her connection to him has endured for decades, with Hilton describing herself as "hooked ever since."
When news of Bowie's passing in 2016 shocked the world, Hilton was left reeling, and her reaction mirrored that of many fans worldwide. The musician's death, which followed a liver cancer diagnosis 18 months prior, served as a poignant reminder of his impending mortality – an idea explored through his final album, Blackstar.
The impact of Bowie's passing cannot be overstated for those who have been touched by his music over the years. For Julian Furnival, 68, who has been a die-hard fan since receiving Aladdin Sane on Christmas at age 13, the news came as a devastating blow. Furnival still finds it difficult to accept, with his niece phoning him just hours before the announcement.
Furnival's partner, Laura Hough, 69, has continued to honor Bowie by adding fans' names from around the world to the memorial on their behalf. Despite initial reservations about listening to Blackstar, they have come to appreciate its emotional depth and poignant message.
In addition to Furnival and Hilton, sisters Jenny Wasiak, 65, and Astrid Ballhorn, 74, made a pilgrimage to Brixton from Norwich and retirement respectively to pay tribute to Bowie. For both women, he remains an iconic figure whose influence extends far beyond his own music.
"He's the Beethoven of our day," said Wasiak, who believes that Bowie's innovative style will endure for centuries to come. Ballhorn adds: "He was a genius – there'll never be anyone like him."
The annual gathering at the Starman memorial has become an essential part of the fan community, providing a space for those affected by Bowie's passing to come together and reflect on his enduring legacy.
u cant even imagine how emotional it is 2 be a die-hard Bowie fan 
! His music just takes u back in time & makes u feel all the feels 
. I had no idea he still had such a huge impact on ppl's lives 10 yrs after his passing 
. It's amazing 2 see fans from all over the world coming together 2 pay tribute 2 him 
. Debbie Hilton's shrine at home sounds so cool 
! & Astrid Ballhorn saying he was the "Beethoven of our day" is just iconic 
. I think what's beautiful is that his daughter, who inherited his creative spirit, has kept his legacy alive through various projects. The Starman memorial is such an important space for fans like Debbie, Julian, Jenny, and Astrid to come together and celebrate his life. It's clear that Bowie's music will always be more than just a memory - it'll continue to inspire and uplift us for generations to come 
.
it's crazy how much music can change your life you know? I've been listening to the same artists since I was a kid but there's something about David Bowie that just resonates with me even after all these years 
he had this incredible ability to reinvent himself and push boundaries which is what makes his music so timeless I went to see him live once in 2000 and it was like witnessing art history unfold on stage 
my friend still gets chills thinking about the experience we shared 
Debbie Hilton's shrine at home is insane, I've seen pics and it's like a museum dedicated to his artistry 
Julian Furnival's story brought tears to my eyes, I can only imagine what it'd be like to have such a strong connection to someone who's no longer with us 
it's amazing how his music continues to inspire new generations... what can we learn from his innovative style and artistry? 
i've been hooked ever since! it's crazy to think its been 10 yrs since he passed away 
but his legacy lives on thru all us fans who are still reppin him 
the starman memorial is such an amazing tribute to him too - it's crazy that ppl are adding fans' names from all over the world 
. And then he just disappeared for a bit, and we were all left wondering what happened to him 
.
. It's like he knew his time was running out, but he didn't want to let us down 
.
. The memorial in Brixton is so cool, I wish I could attend it but I don't live in London 
. It's lovely to see people still coming together to celebrate his life and music 
He had this way of pushing boundaries and exploring new sounds that inspired generations. Even after his passing, it's amazing how much love and devotion his fanbase still has for him 
It warms my heart to think about people like Debbie Hilton and Julian Furnival finding comfort in the music that brought them so much joy all those years ago 
. Like Debbie Hilton, who still has her whole house dedicated to Bowie's memory, it shows how deep his connection was with us 
. And those fans, Julian Furnival, Jenny Wasiak, and Astrid Ballhorn, they're just proof that his legacy lives on 
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! It feels like just yesterday we were saying goodbye to David Bowie 
, but you can't help but feel a little sad when you think about all the amazing things he never got to create or experience in his life.
i can imagine how hurtin his loss must be for all these fans, especially the ones who grew up with his music like debbie & julian... they're right, he is def the beethoven of our day 
, sorry not sorry!), I think what really stands out here is the way his music has left an indelible mark on people's lives. Like, Debbie Hilton's home dedicated to him? That's dedication! 
. The fact that his legacy continues to inspire new generations is a testament to his genius and innovative spirit 
. I mean, can't they find new music to obsess over or something? This whole Starman memorial thing is just a bunch of adults gathering to cry about someone who died 10 years ago... what's next, going back to high school reunions?